Should you open a Turkish restaurant in Thurrock?
Quick answer
Thurrock scores 65 out of 100 on our demand index — possible, but competitive. The council currently has 18 Turkish restaurants against an estimated 2,310 monthly searches for Turkish food, which works out to roughly 8,381 residents for every Turkish restaurant already trading here. The single biggest factor behind that number is overall market size, which ranks higher here than in most other councils in England and Wales. That combination of supply, search interest and population is what the verdict above is based on: Thurrock looks possible, but competitive for someone weighing up whether to open a Turkish restaurant in the area, relative to every other council we track.
Read next: How to Open a Turkish Restaurant in the UK in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
How this score breaks down
How Thurrock compares in East Counties
Thurrock ranks 8 of 45 councils in East Counties by demand score, and 1 of 45 by number of Turkish restaurants. The table below shows its four nearest neighbours by score.
| Council | Demand score | Verdict | Turkish restaurants | Monthly searches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurrock | 65 | Balanced | 18 | 2,310 |
| Harlow | 65 | Balanced | 2 | 800 |
| Central Bedfordshire | 65 | Balanced | 17 | 2,020 |
| Tendring | 65 | Balanced | 9 | 1,710 |
| Ipswich | 62 | Balanced | 10 | 1,530 |
Where the gap is
- Thurrock doesn't show an obvious quality or saturation gap: its restaurants average 4.3 stars (close to the 4.3-star England & Wales average), and its 18 restaurants look broadly in line with local demand — a balanced market rather than an obvious opening.
The hygiene picture
Of the 19 Turkish food businesses we hold hygiene data for in Thurrock, 0% are rated 5 (the top FSA score) and 25% are rated 2 or below, with 0 still awaiting inspection — a new entrant that runs a clean, well-documented kitchen would stand out quickly.
Where they cluster: Most Turkish restaurants in Thurrock sit in RM17, RM15 and SS17 — 6 in RM17, 5 in RM15, 3 in SS17.
Restaurants already here
| Name | Postcode | Hygiene rating |
|---|---|---|
| Aveley's Chef | RM15 4PJ | 4 |
| UK Meze | RM17 6LY | 4 |
| Istanbul Kebab | RM20 3HX | 3 |
| Mangal Meze | RM17 5DL | 1 |
| Artemis | SS17 9AA | — |
| Avora Restaurant & Shisha Lounge | RM17 6HR | — |
| Essex Grill 2 | RM17 5NH | — |
| Golden Fry | RM19 1ST | — |
and 11 more See every Turkish restaurant in Thurrock
What it would cost here
Fitting out a 100 m² Turkish restaurant in Thurrock with a mid-range fit-out, using our small-town cost assumptions, comes to roughly £174,402 – £348,546 up front. The two largest lines are fit-out & build (£90,000 – £150,000) and kitchen equipment (£20,847 – £76,060).
Open the full cost calculator for Thurrock →
Planning estimate only — see the cost calculator for the full breakdown and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Turkish restaurants are in Thurrock?
- Thurrock currently has 18 Turkish restaurants.
- Is there demand for a Turkish restaurant in Thurrock?
- Yes — an estimated 2,310 monthly searches relate to Turkish food in Thurrock, giving it a demand score of 65/100.
- What would it cost to open a Turkish restaurant in Thurrock?
- A 100 m² restaurant with a mid-range fit-out costs roughly £174,402 – £348,546 to open in Thurrock, based on our cost model.
- How does Thurrock compare to the rest of East Counties?
- Thurrock scores 65/100 and ranks 8 of 45 in East Counties. The region's top-scoring council is Dacorum, at 80/100.
Thinking about opening here?
Tell us where, and we'll send you the local numbers — population, competition, and rent benchmarks.